Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Cancer Manag Res 2020 3;12:4161-4168. Epub 2020 Jun 3.

Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Institute Hospital of Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Tokyo 135-8550, Japan.

Background: In the CheckMate-141 trial, nivolumab conferred a survival benefit in patients with recurrent or metastatic refractory squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) head and neck cancer (HNC). Here, we examined the efficacy of nivolumab in patients with histological subtypes or primary sites of HNC not included in the CheckMate-141 trial.

Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of data collected prospectively from 97 patients who were treated with nivolumab for recurrent or metastatic HNC at our institution. Read More

In Vivo 2020 Jun;34(3 Suppl):1681-1684

Department of Radiation Oncology, Montefiore Medical Center, New York, NY, U.S.A.

Aim: To describe the incidental detection of COVID-19 disease on positron-emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in a patient with cancer despite initial negative swab by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Case Report: Clinical and radiographic data were obtained from the electronic medical record. Nasopharyngeal swabs were obtained and evaluated for COVID-19 by the Food and Drug Administration-approved reverse transcription-PCR assays. Read More

Cell Transplant 2020 Jan-Dec;29:963689720929308

Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a malignant tumor of the upper aerodigestive tract affecting the oral cavity, lips, paranasal sinuses, larynx, and nasopharynx. Proteogenomics combines proteomics and genomics and employs mass spectrometry and high-throughput sequencing technologies to identify novel peptides. The aim of this study was to identify potential protein biomarkers for clinical treatment of HNSCC. Read More

Clin Transl Oncol 2020 May 21. Epub 2020 May 21.

Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Creighton University Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.

Purpose: Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma (BSCC) of the head and neck is an aggressive and highly malignant variant of squamous cell carcinoma that accounts for 2% of head and neck cancers. Previous studies have not analyzed the significance of adjuvant chemoradiation and anatomical site within BSCC subtype and its impact on survival.

Methods: A cohort of 1999 patients with BSCC of the head and neck was formed from the National Cancer Database and analyzed with descriptive studies, median survival and 5- and 10-year survival. Read More

Radiol Case Rep 2020 Jul 12;15(7):983-987. Epub 2020 May 12.

Department of Radiology, Daping hospital, Army medical university, Chongqing 400042, China.

Carcinoma of unknown primary accounts for 2%-5% of all head and neck tumors. Identification of the primary site is challenging. We present a case report of a 43-year-old man with metastatic cervical lymphadenopathy for 3 year, and the primary tumor was unknown after routine examinations, including positron emission tomography/computed tomography. Read More

Acta Biochim Pol 2020 May;67(2):213-218

Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Oncological Laryngology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Zabrze, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Zabrze, Poland.

The head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is an aggressive human malignancy diagnosed in more than 800 000 new cases worldwide, and mostly arises in the oral cavity, oropharynx, larynx, hypopharynx, and nasopharynx. The study presented here aimed to determine a possible association of rs11515 and rs3088440 gene polymorphisms in the CDKN2A gene (cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor 2A), as well as rs769412 and rs937283 in the MDM2 gene (murine double minute 2), with oral cavity cancer in a sample of Polish population; CDKN2A is crucial in regulating the cell cycle while MDM2 is an oncogene involved in regulating cell proliferation and apoptosis. The study included 95 primary tumor samples following surgical resection from patients, and the control group consisted of 100 healthy individuals. Read More

Front Oncol 2020 12;10:321. Epub 2020 Mar 12.

Center of Growth, Metabolism, and Aging, Key Laboratory of Bio-Resources and Eco-Environment, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most common malignancy worldwide. Somatic copy number alterations (CNAs) play a significant role in the development of this lethal cancer. In this study, we present a meta-analysis of CNAs for a total of 1,395 HNSCC samples. Read More

Harefuah 2020 Feb;159(1):132-136

Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel.

Introduction: The American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging manual has become the point of reference for classifying patients with cancer, defining prognosis, and determining the best treatment approaches. The eighth edition of the Head and Neck AJCC Cancer Staging Manual incorporates significant changes based on advances in our understanding of the etiology and certain histologic attributes of tumors. Changes were made only when there was strong evidence for inclusion, while balancing between "population-based" and a more "personalized" approach. Read More

Med Oncol 2019 Dec 21;37(2):12. Epub 2019 Dec 21.

Division of Medical Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid, Campus Box 8056, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA.

We performed a prospective trial to assess the clinical benefit of a tailored gene set built on a next-generation sequencing (NGS) platform in patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Archived tumor tissue obtained from patients with recurrent or metastatic HNSCC was analyzed for variants by a tailored Comprehensive Cancer Gene set of 40 genes (CCG-40) performed on a NGS platform. These data were provided to clinicians to inform treatment decisions. Read More

Contemp Oncol (Pozn) 2019 31;23(3):178-182. Epub 2019 Oct 31.

I Department of Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy, Maria Skłodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Centre and Institute of Oncology, Gliwice Branch, Gliwice, Poland.

Between January 2017 and July 2018 103 patients were included in a prospective study of erythropoietin (EPO) monitoring. The group consisted of 33% patients with oropharynx, 29% with oral cavity, 13% with nasopharynx, 6% with larynx, 6% with hypopharynx, 8% with unknown primary cancer, 4% with nasal cavity, and 1% with salivary gland cancer. Clinic stage: T4 - 50, T3 - 21, T2 - 14, T1 - 10, T0 - 8, and N3 - 19, N2 - 61, N1 - 10, N0 - 13. Read More

Rep Pract Oncol Radiother 2020 Jan-Feb;25(1):23-27. Epub 2019 Nov 18.

Department of Radiation Oncology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.

Aim: To report a case of radiation-induced brachial plexopathy (RIBP) with significant radiographic and clinical improvement after a course of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO).

Background: RIBP is a rare complication after radiotherapy to the neck and axilla. There are no standard treatment options, with empirical use pharmacotherapy being predominately used, which has had mixed results. Read More

Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2019 Oct 20;71(Suppl 1):157-161. Epub 2017 Jul 20.

31, Sangana Society, Near Navyug College, Rander Road, Surat, 395009 India.

The potential of CT, MRI or both to detect a primary tumor ranges from 9.3 to 23% rising to 60% when suspicious radiological findings direct subsequent endoscopic biopsies (Zhuang et al. in Mol Clin Oncol 2:917-922, 2014). Read More

Rev Esp Enferm Dig 2019 12;111(12):978

Gastroenterologia, Hospital de Lidice, Venezuela.

I read with great interest the paper by Sousa M. Tumor seeding of the fistula tract should be suspected in patients with a previous history of esophageal or nasopharynx squamous cell carcinoma who have undergone a Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG) with a persistent gastrocutaneous fistula. Especially after the use of an OTSC. Read More

Clin Otolaryngol 2020 Jan 13;45(1):63-72. Epub 2019 Nov 13.

Department of Radiation Oncology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

Objectives: The United States has a heterogenous health insurance landscape for patients <65 years. We sought to characterise the impact of primary payer on overall survival (OS) in insured patients younger than 65 with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) treated with definitive radiotherapy.

Design/study/participants: The National Cancer Database was queried for patients <65 years old diagnosed from 2004 to 2014 undergoing definitive radiotherapy ± chemotherapy for cancers of the nasopharynx, oropharynx, hypopharynx and larynx. Read More

Adv Dent Res 2019 11;30(2):45-49

Department of Pharmacology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.

Head and neck cancers are among the 10 most common cancers in the world and include cancers of the oral cavity, hypopharynx, larynx, nasopharynx, and oropharynx. At least 90% of head and neck cancers are squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs). This summary discusses the integration of clinical and mechanistic studies in achieving diagnostic and therapeutic precision in the context of oral cancer. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2019 Oct 10;12(10). Epub 2019 Oct 10.

Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

The combination of a sixth nerve palsy and ipsilateral Horner's syndrome localises the disease process to the posterior cavernous sinus and can be a result of various pathologies in this region. A 74-year-old Chinese woman presented with a 9-month history of binocular horizontal diplopia worse when looking left. She was found to have a left sixth nerve palsy and Horner's syndrome and MRI revealed an enhancing soft tissue mass in the nasopharynx with involvement of the bones of the skull base and invasion of the left cavernous sinus. Read More

Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2019 Sep 20;71(3):396-400. Epub 2018 Jun 20.

2Department of Sciences for Health Promotion and Mother-Child Care "G. D'Alessandro", Polyclinic University Hospital "Paolo Giaccone", University of Palermo, Via del Vespro, 133, 90127 Palermo, Italy.

To evaluate whether EBV-DNA can be used as a diagnostic and follow-up parameter for nasopharyngeal tumors in a non-endemic population. The study was carried out in a university hospital. A retrospective study was conducted on 40 paraffin samples of histological preparations. Read More

ESMO Open 2019 16;4(Suppl 2):e000542. Epub 2019 Jul 16.

Department of Medical Oncology, S Croce and Carle Teaching Hospital, Cuneo, Italy.

The definition of 'head and neck cancer' (HNC) identifies squamous cell carcinoma arising from the pharynx, the larynx and the oral cavity. Most of them are induced by smoking and alcohol abuse, but tumours arising in the nasopharynx and in the oropharynx may be virus induced, Epstein-Barr virus and human papillomavirus, respectively. Medical oncologists are involved in HNC in locally advanced disease and in relapsed/metastatic disease not suitable for salvage radiotherapy or surgery. Read More

J Contemp Brachytherapy 2019 Jun 28;11(3):243-249. Epub 2019 Jun 28.

Department of Radiation Oncology, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.

Purpose: Locally residual nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is associated with increased risk of local failure, if additional treatment is not applied. The objective of this paper was to report the treatment effect of fibre-optic endoscope-guided three-dimensional high-dose-rate interstitial brachytherapy (3D HDR ISBT) boost, integrated with radical external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) for deep-seated NPC residual lesion.

Case Report: A 52-year-old female, with a diagnosis of NPC and biopsy-proven low-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in left nasopharynx; the tumor size was 3. Read More

Clin Med Insights Ear Nose Throat 2019 23;12:1179550619865551. Epub 2019 Jul 23.

Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Centro Hospitalar Vila Nova de Gaia/Espinho, Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal.

Lymphoepithelial carcinoma of the larynx is a rare tumor, as this histological entity is mostly diagnosed in nasopharynx. However, it may be present in other non-nasopharyngeal sites and it is extremely rare in the larynx. The authors present a case of a 59-year-old man who presented to the Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Department complaining of a long-standing dysphonia, odynophagia, and dysphagia. Read More

Malays J Pathol 2019 Aug;41(2):201-206

Eulji University School of Medicine, Department of Radiation Oncology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.

We present a case of an undifferentiated subtype of non-keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma (NK-SCC) with sarcomatoid features in the nasopharynx in a 69-year-old man who was difficult to diagnose due to spindle-shaped malignant cells. He was admitted because of a right nasal obstruction and right headache, and imaging revealed a heterogeneously enhanced irregularly shaped mass at the nasopharynx. Histopathologically, the tumour was partially organised, and the tumour cells were epithelioid or spindle-shaped. Read More

Clin Otolaryngol 2019 11 12;44(6):961-967. Epub 2019 Sep 12.

NIHR Bristol Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospitals Bristol and University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.

Objectives: This paper aims to provide contemporary epidemiological data on squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the nasal cavity, which represents a rare type of head and neck cancer.

Design, Setting & Participants: A descriptive analysis of people with nasal cavity SCC treated with curative intent from the Head and Neck 5000 study; a multicentre clinical cohort study of people from the UK with head and neck cancer. People with tumours of the nasopharynx, paranasal sinuses and other sub-sites of the head and neck were excluded. Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2019 Jul 31;20(15). Epub 2019 Jul 31.

Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, UNC at Chapel Hill, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.

Normally ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1) is expressed in the central nervous and reproductive systems of adults, but its de novo expression has been detected in many human cancers. There is a growing body of evidence that UCH-L1 de-ubiquitinating (DUB) activity plays a major pro-metastatic role in certain carcinomas. Here we tested anti-metastatic effects of the small-molecule inhibitor of UCH-L1 DUB activity, LDN-57444, in cell lines from advanced oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) as well as invasive nasopharyngeal (NP) cell lines expressing the major pro-metastatic gene product of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) tumor virus, LMP1. Read More

Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2019 10 29;28(10):1660-1667. Epub 2019 Jul 29.

Department of Radiation Oncology, Head and Neck Oncology Program, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Brigham and Women's Cancer Center, Boston, Massachusetts.

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive oropharyngeal head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) is increasing in the United States. Current epidemiologic assessments of the national burden of HPV-positive OPSCC are needed.

Methods: The Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results HPV Status Database included 12,017 patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma of pharyngeal subsites, including OPSCC and non-OPSCC head and neck cancer subsites (hypopharynx, nasopharynx, and "other pharynx"), diagnosed from 2013 to 2014. Read More

J Med Virol 2020 02;92(2):227-233

Division of Virology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa.

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) have been associated with a subset of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs). The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of HPV DNA in archived formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue from patients with histologically confirmed HNSCCs in a South African cohort. A nested PCR was used for the detection of HPV DNA targeting the L1 gene. Read More

J Immunother Cancer 2019 07 15;7(1):184. Epub 2019 Jul 15.

UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.

Head and neck cancers, including those of the lip and oral cavity, nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, oropharynx, larynx and nasopharynx represent nearly 700,000 new cases and 380,000 deaths worldwide per annum, and account for over 10,000 annual deaths in the United States alone. Improvement in outcomes are needed for patients with recurrent and or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC). In 2016, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted the first immunotherapeutic approvals - the anti-PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitors nivolumab and pembrolizumab - for the treatment of patients with recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC) that is refractory to platinum-based regimens. Read More

Curr Health Sci J 2019 Jan-Mar;45(1):79-86. Epub 2019 Mar 31.

"Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging "Colţea" Clinical Hospital, Romania.

Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common type of neoplasia which affects the mucosa of the upper aero-digestive tract. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a unique disease with clinical behavior, epidemiology, and histopathology that is different from that of squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck. For malignant tumors such as SCC, rapid growth may occur even though there are no previous clinical signs. Read More

Gulf J Oncolog 2019 May;1(30):6-12

Radiation Oncology Department, Kuwait Cancer Control Centre, Kuwait.

Introduction: Globally, there is marked variation in overall incidence and presentation of head and neck cancers, these cancers account for 11.5 per 100,000 population in G.C. Read More

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019 07 24;116(28):14144-14153. Epub 2019 Jun 24.

Department of Clinical Oncology, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China;

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) induces histone modifications to regulate signaling pathways involved in EBV-driven tumorigenesis. To date, the regulatory mechanisms involved are poorly understood. In this study, we show that EBV infection of epithelial cells is associated with aberrant histone modification; specifically, aberrant histone bivalent switches by reducing the transcriptional activation histone mark (H3K4me3) and enhancing the suppressive mark (H3K27me3) at the promoter regions of a panel of DNA damage repair members in immortalized nasopharyngeal epithelial (NPE) cells. Read More

Lin Chung Er Bi Yan Hou Tou Jing Wai Ke Za Zhi 2019 Jun;33(6):563-564

Low grade papillary adenocarcinoma is especially rare tumor in nasopharynx. Here we reported a patient who had low grade papillary adenocarcinoma of the nasopharynx and was diagnosed by pathology. The patient complained for bilateral nasal congestion for 10 years and was hospitalized in recent 3 years. Read More

Cancer Radiother 2019 Jul 25;23(4):304-311. Epub 2019 May 25.

Centre de protonthérapie, institut Curie, campus universitaire, 15, rue Georges-Clémenceau, bâtiment 101, 91400 Orsay, France; Département de radiothérapie, institut Curie, 25, rue d'Ulm, 75005 Paris, France.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the treatment outcome and toxicity for patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated with a complementary dose with proton.

Patients And Methods: Between November 1999 and September 2016, 17 patients have been treated for a stage III-IVa nasopharyngeal carcinoma in the proton therapy centre of Curie Institute. Bilateral lymph node in the neck (I-V levels) received from 40 to 54Gy with photon beam. Read More

Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2019 09 14;161(3):442-449. Epub 2019 May 14.

1 Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, USA.

Objectives/hypothesis: Salivary gland nasopharynx cancers (SGNPCs) are rare malignancies with few cases discussed in the literature. This study represents the largest cohort of SGNPC to date.

Study Design: Retrospective population-based analysis. Read More

Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2019 07 7;57(6):515-528. Epub 2019 May 7.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals and St James Institute of Oncology, Leeds Dental Institute and Leeds General Infirmary, LS1 3EX. Electronic address:

The management of enlarged retropharyngeal lymph nodes (RLN) in patients with confirmed oral, oropharyngeal, or nasopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) has prognostic relevance and is a challenge for the clinical teams. There is, however, no consensus regarding their clinical management or radiographic evaluation. The aim of this review therefore was to present the current thinking on management to help improve outcomes. Read More

Radiother Oncol 2019 05 30;134:1-9. Epub 2019 Jan 30.

Radiation Oncology Department, Léon Bérard Cancer Center, Lyon, France. Electronic address:

Background And Purpose: In 2000, a panel of experts published a proposal for the selection of lymph node target volumes for definitive head and neck radiation therapy (Radiother Oncol, 2000; 56: 135-150). Hereunder, this selection is updated and extended to also cover primary sites not previously covered.

Patients And Methods: The lymphatic spread of head and neck cancers into neck lymph nodes was comprehensively reviewed based on radiological, surgical and pathological literature regarding both initial involvement and patterns of failure. Read More

Anticancer Res 2019 Apr;39(4):1907-1914

Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Oncology-Hematology, VA Nebraska Western Iowa Health Care System and University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, U.S.A.

Background/aim: HPV-mediated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma is associated with an increased survival. The prognostic value of HPV status for other primary sites is unclear. We aimed to assess the effect of HPV status on overall survival in patients with non-oropharyngeal head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (non-OPSCC) using the National Cancer Database (NCDB). Read More

Am J Cancer Res 2019 1;9(3):479-495. Epub 2019 Mar 1.

Department of Pathophysiology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Guangzhou 510080, P. R. China.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), arising from the nasopharynx epithelium, is prevalent among South and East Asia. The radiotherapy is the primary treatment for NPC patients. However, the acquired radioresistance dramatically diminishes the therapeutic effect of radiotherapy. Read More

Rev Esp Enferm Dig 2019 05;111(5):409

Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Centro Hospitalar de Gaia/Espinho, Portugal.

A 55-year-old female patient was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the nasopharynx stage in 2016 and proposed for radical chemo/radiotherapy. A percutaneous endoscopy gastrostomy was performed in 2016 because of the patient´s difficulty in swallowing. The patient had good response to therapy with disease´s remission so the gastrostomy tube was removed in 2018. Read More

Clin Exp Metastasis 2019 06 14;36(3):291-302. Epub 2019 Mar 14.

Discipline of Surgery, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, Australia.

Circulating microRNAs have been described as head and neck cancer biomarkers in multiple anatomical subsites including the oral cavity, nasopharynx, larynx, salivary glands and the skin. While there is an expanding volume of published literature showing the significance of individual or panels of microRNAs, the clinical validation of candidate biomarkers is lacking. The various methods used to collect, store, process and interpret these microRNAs are likely introducing bias and contributing to the inconsistent results. Read More

Int J Biol Markers 2019 Jun 13;34(2):139-147. Epub 2019 Mar 13.

5 Koc University, School of Medicine, Department of Radiation Oncology, Istanbul, Turkey.

Background: To retrospectively investigate the influence of pretreatment anemia and hemoglobin levels on the survival of nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy (C-CRT).

Methods: A total of 149 nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients who received C-CRT were included. All patients had received 70 Gy to the primary tumor plus the involved lymph nodes, and 59. Read More

World J Clin Cases 2019 Mar;7(5):616-622

Division of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Department of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92357, United States.

Background: Squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck (SCCHN) is the fifth most common cancer worldwide. Inhibition of epidermal growth factor receptor signaling has been shown to be a critical component of therapeutic option. Herein, we report a case of durable complete response to erlotinib. Read More

Arch Pathol Lab Med 2019 11 6;143(11):1420-1424. Epub 2019 Mar 6.

From the Department of Pathology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital (Drs Chen and Yang), and the Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine (Dr Yang), Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

Human papillomavirus (HPV)-related carcinoma with adenoid cystic-like features is a rare, recently recognized entity restricted to the sinonasal tract. By definition, it is associated with high-risk HPV infection, particularly with HPV type 33. In most cases, tumors are composed of dual cell populations, including predominant basaloid myoepithelial cells and usually inconspicuous ductal cells. Read More

Bull Soc Pathol Exot 2018 ;111(2):84-89

Laboratoire d'anatomie et cytologie pathologiques du CNHU de Grand Yoff, Dakar, Sénégal.

Undifferentiated carcinoma of the nasopharynx (UCNT) has variable incidence throughout the world. Senegal is supposed to be a non-endemic zone. There is a constant connection with the Epstein-Barr virus. Read More

Clin Otolaryngol 2019 05 12;44(3):349-355. Epub 2019 Mar 12.

ENT Clinic, Develi HMK State Hospital, Kayseri, Turkey.

Objectives: To investigate the relationship between the cell percentage of T regulator (Treg) cells of patients' specimens and disease severity, survivability, recurrence and metastasis in patients who were diagnosed with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

Design, Setting And Participants: Sixty patients who were diagnosed as NPC and treated by the same protocol were enrolled to the study. Patient files were reviewed retrospectively and their clinical and pathological results were recorded. Read More

Indian J Pathol Microbiol 2019 Jan-Mar;62(1):125-128

Department of Medical Oncology, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Mexico City, Baja California, México.

Lymphoepithelioma is a rare clinical entity, first was described in nasopharynx, and have been reported in another organs. Lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma (LEC) of the breast is an undifferentiated carcinoma. Approximately 32 cases have been described, and differential diagnoses include primary breast lymphoma and medullary carcinoma. Read More

Front Oncol 2018 13;8:616. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Department of Pharmacy, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa, Japan.

Skin toxicity is a common adverse event during cetuximab (Cmab) treatment. However, few reports have investigated the correlation between skin toxicity and the efficacy of Cmab in patients with recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (R/M SCCHN). We retrospectively reviewed 112 R/M SCCHN patients who received palliative chemotherapy with Cmab. Read More

Oral Oncol 2019 01 27;88:131-136. Epub 2018 Nov 27.

Department of Otolaryngology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Surgical Oncology, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA.

Importance: Evaluation of distant metastasis (DM) is part of every new cancer evaluation. Understanding DM presentation patterns may impact the imaging workup of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC).

Objective: Examine the frequency and location of DM at presentation in HNSCC. Read More

Ann Oncol 2019 03;30(3):471-477

Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston. Electronic address:

Background: The survival advantage of induction chemotherapy (IC) followed by locoregional treatment is controversial in locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (LAHNSCC). We previously showed feasibility and safety of cetuximab-based IC (paclitaxel/carboplatin/cetuximab-PCC, and docetaxel/cisplatin/5-fluorouracil/cetuximab-C-TPF) followed by local therapy in LAHNSCC. The primary end point of this phase II clinical trial with randomization to PCC and C-TPF followed by combined local therapy in patients with LAHNSCC stratified by human papillomavirus (HPV) status and T-stage was 2-year progression-free survival (PFS) compared with historical control. Read More

Invest New Drugs 2019 08 19;37(4):702-710. Epub 2018 Dec 19.

Hematology-Medical Oncology, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center - Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC - James), Columbus, OH, USA.

Purpose Vorinostat is a potent HDAC inhibitor that sensitizes head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) to cytotoxic therapy while sparing normal epithelium. The primary objective of this Phase I study was to determine the maximally tolerated dose (MTD) and safety of Vorinostat in combination with standard chemoradiation therapy treatment in HNSCC. Patients and Methods Eligible patients had pathologically confirmed Stage III, IVa, IVb HNSCC, that was unresectable or borderline resectable involving the larynx, hypopharynx, nasopharynx, and oropharynx. Read More

Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2019 04 15;103(5):1109-1124. Epub 2018 Dec 15.

Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California.

Perineural invasion (PNI), the neoplastic invasion of nerves, is a common pathologic finding in head and neck cancer that is associated with poor clinical outcomes. PNI is a histologic finding of tumor cell infiltration and is distinct from perineural tumor spread (PNTS), which is macroscopic tumor involvement along a nerve extending from the primary tumor that is by definition more advanced, being radiologically or clinically apparent. Despite widespread acknowledgment of the prognostic significance of PNI and PNTS, the mechanisms underlying its pathogenesis remain largely unknown, and specific therapies targeting nerve invasion are lacking. Read More

J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2018 Dec 4;47(1):74. Epub 2018 Dec 4.

Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Ottawa, 501 Smyth Rd, Module S - Room M2566, Box 216, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L6, Canada.

Background: We sought to expand upon preliminary data suggesting that metformin confers a survival benefit to patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

Methods: A large-scale retrospective cohort study of all patients in Ontario diagnosed with squamous cancer of the larynx, hypopharynx, and nasopharynx between Dec 1st 2007 to Dec 1st 2012 was undertaken. The Institute for Clinical and Evaluative Sciences was accessed to obtain patient demographic, treatment and outcome information. Read More